The fashion designer Alexander McQueen, who was struggling with depression and the death of his mother, hanged himself earlier this year after taking cocaine, sleeping pills and tranquillisers, an inquest heard today.

Recording a verdict of suicide, the Westminster coroner, Dr Paul Knapman, said: "It's such a pity for a man who, from a modest start, climbed to the top of his profession only to die in such tragedy."

Knapman concluded that the 40-year-old designer, whose full name was Lee Alexander McQueen, "killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed".

The inquest was told that McQueen's body was found hanging at his flat in central London on 11 February – a day before the funeral of his mother, Joyce.

The designer's psychiatrist said he had mixed anxiety and depressive disorder for at least three years and had twice taken drug overdoses as "cries for help".

Dr Stephen Pereira, who arranged for McQueen to be seen by a consultant psychologist, added that the designer's workload had a direct effect on his mental state .

"He certainly felt very pressured by his work, but it was a double-edged sword," said Pereira. "He felt it was the only area of his life where he felt he had achieved something. Usually after a show he felt a huge comedown. He felt isolated, it gave him a huge low."

Pereira went on to suggest the death of McQueen's mother had devastating consequences for his patient.

"He was a very secretive person. Over a period of time he had been let down by various friends who he felt were taking advantage of who he was. For that reason he was very guarded.

"He had been terribly let down in long-standing close relationships. He was very close to his mother. I think on top of the grief he felt there was that one link that had gone from his life and there was very little to live for."

Pereira said McQueen had repeatedly missed psychiatric sessions, adding that there had been "enormous difficulty in getting him to personally, physically come to appointments".

A toxicology report found the designer had taken a "substantial" amount of cocaine and sleeping pills and also a smaller amount of tranquillisers before killing himself.

A postmortem found the causes of death were asphyxia and hanging.

The coroner's court heard that his housekeeper, César García, discovered the body after turning up for work at the designer's Mayfair flat and finding the front door chained from the inside.

García got in through the utility room and noticed that the designer's dogs were whining and that the main bedroom was in a bit of a mess. He discovered McQueen's body in the second bedroom, where a lit candle was still burning on the floor.

An ambulance was called but the paramedic, who noted that rigor mortis had started, decided that there was no chance of resuscitation.

Police officers who examined the bedroom found a copy of a book called The Descent of Man by the artist Wolfe von Lenkiewicz.

They later discovered that a note had been scrawled on the back of the book.

Part of the message, which was read to the court, said: "Please look after my dogs. Sorry, I love you. Lee. PS Bury me in the church."

McQueen's family asked the media to respect their privacy but issued a statement paying tribute to him.

"Lee was a public figure and a creative genius, who possessed a generous loving, caring nature," it read. "Those who were privileged to have known Lee will cherish their memories of him for all their lives.

"Lee was also a much-loved brother and son and we miss him terribly. We will continue to make every effort to keep his memory alive."

The fashion world also paid tribute. Alexandra Shulman, the editor of British Vogue, called McQueen a "modern genius" while Dame Vivienne Westwood said she was "incredibly sorry".

He was also close friends with the model Kate Moss, who said she was "shocked and devastated" by his death.